Mental health affects 1 in 4 members of the UK population, and depending on its extremes, can have a devastating effect on both the sufferer and those close to them such as family, friends and colleagues.
Mental health has varying degrees from mild to severe. Anxiety, depression and stress are considered mental illnesses, not just the more obvious ones such as dementia, Alzheimers, bi-polar, schizophrenia or psychosis of some form. In all of these mental disorders, the brain ceases to function correctly.
Water is intrinsic in brain development and correct functioning and whilst it will not cure certain mental malfunctions, it is extremely active in maintaining brain health. One of the causes of conditions such as depression, confusion or brain fog can be dehydration.
As little as 1.5% dehydration can cause short term mental illness in its mildest form. Statistics show that women are more susceptible than men.
Awareness is key, as has been highlighted by both Prince William and Prince Harry and their wives, particularly in the case of young adults. Mental disorders occur regularly in early teenage years and cannot stay untreated.
This year’s World Mental Health Day particularly focusses on mental health in the workplace, where stress can be at its highest level. Realising that people are under stress is so important in being able to treat them at an early stage. Water in the workplace is as important for mental health as it is physical health. Dehydration can and will cause lack of cognitive ability, i.e. you are less likely to think clearly or to complete even simple tasks that you would normally do. Being mentally tired will cause your body to go into overdrive, which in turn can cause physical and emotional exhaustion.
Remember that your brain has no place to store water and neither can it produce it, so it is dependent on a constant flow to activate and maintain clarity of thought processes. Without adequate water intake, the neurotransmitters and relevant production of essential hormones will be adversely affected. So the moral of the story is – drink up on water for both body and brain energy. Make water easy to access at all times, and if in doubt take your own Hydratem8 bottle to ensure that you can rehydrate all day long – and don’t forget the kids!
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